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Megaskepasma erythrochlamys [ me - gas - kee - PAS - muh , er - ith - roh - KLAM - is ] bed by the coarse name Brazilian red cloak is an interesting shrub .
It ’s the only metal money in the megaskepasma genus in the crime syndicate Acanthaceae along with :
Photo Credit: Instagram @rainforestgardens
The tropical Brazilian scarlet cloak flora is aboriginal to Venezuela and other parts of South America where it produces colorful inflorescences during the wintertime .
Instead of the tongue - cruller binominal name , most people call it the Brazilian red cloak due to its ruby bracts concealing delicate clean flowers .
Brazilian Red Cloak Care
Size and Growth
Brazilian cherry-red cloak is an evergreen shrub with woody growth .
It typically reaches about 6′ to 8′ feet grandiloquent while it can get through 15′ feet in its native habitat .
The spread is often equal to the height .
The bow produce broad , dark light-green foliage quantify up to 12″ inches foresighted with pinkish midvein .
It ’s an evergreen plant plant life , so the leaves remain all twelvemonth .
Flowering and Fragrance
The flora flower in the fall or early winter .
It features showy red bract hiding small white flowers .
While it mostly flower in the fall or winter , it may also occasionally flower throughout the year when grown in idealistic condition .
Light and Temperature
maturate in full Sunday to partial shade with protection from the hot verbatim afternoon sunlight .
It flourish in warmer regions and is winter hardy to USDA geographical zone 10 to 11 .
It wo n’t last out of doors in immobilize temperature , but it can tolerate a clean frost .
For added shelter and to help the soil retain more moisture over winter , add mulch over the soil around the flora .
Watering and Feeding
This tropic flora require damp grunge . Do n’t allow it to dry out between each lachrymation whole .
At the showtime of the class , add a dull - discharge fertilizerto the dirt .
Use a liquid fertilizer with each watering during the warmer months .
Stop adding plant food in the nightfall when the bloom appear .
Soil and Transplanting
plant life in the ground or in a tumid flock with medium drainage as the plant requires never-ending moisture .
If the soil drain too quickly , tot humus - rich compost or peat moss to the top 6″ to 10″ inch of soil helps retain more wet .
graft potted flora every two to three days to refresh the grease .
Grooming
Trim the plant back after the bloom to promote bushiness and retain its configuration .
How to Propagate Megaskepasma Erythrochlamys
broadcast Brazilian flushed cloak with prow cut or seeds .
Keep the soil moist , and the seedlings should appear in several weeks .
Avoid transplantation until the next bound .
To propagate from cuttings .
Megaskepasma Erythrochlamys Pest or Disease Problems
wanderer mites , whiteflies , and other coarse pests may set on the plant life , specially in dry environments .
Keep the soil moist and spritz the plant at times to protect against plague .
If pests seem , seek washing them away .
Take potted plants outdoors and spray with a garden hose .
Severe plague may require commercial-grade insecticide .
Snails are another potential scourge .
Dead leave , bract , and flowers make a draw of bedding around the works , supply concealment for group of snails to obliterate and multiply .
Place pet - secure snail lure ( Diatomaceous earth uncommitted at Amazon ) around the radix of the plant before the winter to keep the snails away .
Along with pests , the works may occasionally have from root rot , which is more common for potted plant .
To reduce the risk of fungous growth , supplant the soil when transplant every two to three age .
The Brazilian red cloak is n’t considered invasive or particularly toxic .
However , it may cause mild irritation if take .
Suggested Brazilian Red Cloak Uses
The large bush need room to disperse , piddle it a salutary alternative for adding depth and colour .
The showy violent bract provide the double-dyed backdrop for the ashen flowers that get a tropic smell to any area .
With regular pruning , it ’s a manageable houseplant .
Grow in a large pot on a covered porch or other indoor space with an open layout .
